Getting Gigs at 53

[bigmow]

I have been around the block several times. Been playin' since 1971. I can't really blame the particular area that I live in. Let me start by saying that I already have a 4 pc. band that plays once a month and occasional private gigs, but I also have a solo act that I use squencing that sounds great! I would like to play solo a couple times a month, but have no promo to give anyone except for my song list and a guarentee that if they don't like it, I'll play for free. I've heard alot of solos and 2 pc. things, but I feel I blow them away.( I really am modest though) It just is frustrating that I can't work more. Do I get a CD and a picture and get out there and promote myself? Need some fresh ideas. Course, it doesn't help when the club you DO play at doesn't advertise. Am I took old, or don't I hustle enough?

[bri]

Hiya bigmow
Well, I have to say I would never offer to play for free if they didn't like it. Don't ever do that...it's too easy to take you up on your offer. I'd say get a good agent (you'll probably have to do a showcase for free, but hey it'll be 3 songs - not several full nights), or more than one and let them get you the work. You're also then in a better position to go touting for yourself, as you'll have some gig money coming in as well. That's how I see it anyway.
As for too old...I remember when I was about that age and a youngster, full of himself, came up whilst I was unloading and said, "And what do YOU do then, old man?" I felt like braining him. Trouble is, you can't - against his "Human Rights." Anyway, I kept on playing for a couple more years and then the audience indifference finally got to me and I called it a day - but on MY terms, not theirs.
Best of luck - I say go fer it!!!
Bri

[lucky1950]

Hi Bigmow !
I think that You have to make some CD to show people how You can sing and play , it can be done at home , and then You'll say that it's a live recording .You can put in local newspaper a short anons that You searching gig on weddings party ....or similar .Remember that not the age of artist but a quality of Your music will help to find a job .If You can work abroad ( if Your family let You go there ) it can be very successfully beginning to go out of Your stress .In Norway is a lot of agencies which selling solos artists and the salary isn't bad ( free accommodation ) , the same if You can play piano , on Cruise Ships is a lot of work .Just let try and think positive - that's very important .
Best regards - Lucky

[thingyy]

Bigmow, I wouldn't worry about an agent {unless you are in a country where agents are a must, but they are parasites as for as I'm concerned}.Offer an audition for 1 hr at a club on a Sunday arvo.
Take it from there.

[levi2]

Bigmow, i agree with Thingy unless your gigging is your bread n butter i wouldnt bother to much bout an agent Im in a duo and our diary is pretty full for 2007 95% of them are our own bookings direct. other is with 1 agent, he knows he cant have us round his finger coz we just say no if we dont want a booking ie ruff area rubbish money. Most of our venues are when we were a 5 piece then a trio so they kinda knew what you were like. i suggest to get intouch with venues you play/played as 4 piece. Then just ring pubs and clubs direct and if you know what they are paying with agent just drop your fee a little cutting out the middleman.Basically if they like you you`ll get booked back

[geraint]

I agree with Levi, forget the agent bit, I do some work through an agent, but very little, and it grieves me to see his percentage taken offf my fee.
What I did was produce a good flier, saying what I did, and a good photo, and dropped one off in all the venues I thought would suit my style of music.
Dont worry about your age, I dont think it makes any difference.

[weegeo]

Hi there bigmow i kinda agree with all the above my advice for what it`s worth would be to go back to the clubs you play with your full band in and check if thet do Friday nite specials i.e one piece and offer your services check out the local scene around you and drop in a business card and tout for your own work i live in N.Ireland so our system of working with agents is slightly different than the mainland i play in a 1/2/3/4 piece outfit and we do use an agent when reqyired but only as a fall back we don`t have any Saturday nites free in 07 and are infact booked into 08 as for doing free work the only free work i do is for charity and age 53 hey your just a pup i`m 57 and the baby of the band so hey my man chin up and go looking i wish u good luck

[shezza]

Hi bigmow, I hate to say it but I think an Agent is your best bet.
Over the years I have been in 8 piece bands, groups, trios, duos, and now I go out as a solo keyboard vocalist using midi files onto mini disc's,And I find the money is quite acceptable compared to
having to share it with 3 other people.Plus there is more work for a solo artist as most pubs and clubs cant afford to pay groups,
Don't get me wrong it's better to watch a group, but if you want regular work you have to do, what you have to do.On average I am out playing 3 nights a week through the year, I have a good agent,and oh I am 58 this year so keep at it........Pete.

[levi2]

Shezza dunno bout agents m8 they pick up the phone ring ya cost em 30 pence and they reap 17% off ya

[rogerb]

Hi Bigmow,
Age is just a number. If you're fit enough to hump the gear and the voice still works well enough for people to want to listen to you - go for it. I've only just started to detect a small element of ageism creeping into the equation and I've just turned 63. I've been in the biz for 47 years and reckon that length of experience will stand me in good stead for a few more years yet. As to agents, when I was working with bands in the U.K. we used them about 50% of the time and the rest came from our own touting. In my opinion a good agent ( i.e. one who does not try to put square pegs into round holes) can be useful. Having said that, I do most of my work in Cyprus these days and don't use an agent at all there. A demo C.D. and a personal visit usually work best for me there.
Good luck,
Roger

[bique]

:)Hi bigmow
I don't know where you are, you’re not too old, hell I'm 65 and still playing Band, Duo with various people (Male or female) and also working solo, some times work four gigs a week with one or more of the combinations.
Years ago I used to go to venues with just a poster and state "Well if you’re not happy with our act I'll play for nothing but as long as the rest of the band gets paid" I was never not paid. I am In Melbourne Australia, so many venues are tied up by agents, some of there acts, well what can I say, I've forgotten more about the game than they will ever learn.
If you want a laugh, I once knew a guy who would go alone with a mixed CD of original artists tracks on it made of short bits of the songs, the venue owner would state that it was the original artist, and this friend of mine would say, “Please, please don’t insult me, that is me and I think I am better than so and so” he not only got work but got an apology as well. I must admit he wasn’t bad and he did have good backings.Hi bigmow
I don't know where you are, you’re not too old, hell I'm 65 and still playing Band, Duo with various people (Male or female) and also working solo, some times work four gigs a week with one or more of the combinations.
Years ago I used to go to venues with just a poster and state "Well if you’re not happy with our act I'll play for nothing but as long as the rest of the band gets paid" I was never not paid. I am In Melbourne Australia, so many venues are tied up by agents, some of there acts, well what can I say, I've forgotten more about the game than they will ever learn.
If you want a laugh, I once knew a guy who would go alone with a mixed CD of original artists tracks on it made of short bits of the songs, the venue owner would state that it was the original artist, and this friend of mine would say, “Please, please don’t insult me, that is me and I think I am better than so and so” he not only got work but got an apology as well. I must admit he wasn’t bad and he did have good backings.

[charlie]

Hey Bigmow,

I'm here in the States and I can tell you that age can be a factor in getting certain gigs. However, if you choose your gigs based on the material you play, you will find most of the audiences will be appreciative of your music. That is to say, don't try and be someone you're not. Just do what you do, but keep a selection of "break" music that will satisfy the small part of the audience yelling for rap or current tunes that you are not playing. You do have to be careful and screen these tunes as a lot of them contain foul language and questionable subject matter. I have found that the younger audiences will tolerate you as long as they get to hear some of the tunes they want. Just balance these tunes out so as to avoid driving off the majority of the audience that came to enjoy your music. I have never let my age stand in the way of gigging. I'm 51.You just have to be a little smarter and be open to new ideas.

[bigmow]

Charlie, At my age, ( 54) I would rather not have a younger audience (20 to 30) unless they know what kind of entertainment they're in store for. I play 60s, & 70's and that's it. No break music. If the younger people can't appreciate this music, then they're in the wrong place, or I'm in the wrong place. Ideally, I would rather play in bars with baby boomers as the audience but unfortunately, they don't come out enough. Too many forms of enterainment at home. I just have to find the right clubs with the right kind of people that appreicate what I do. You're right, just do waht you do and keep playin' brother.

[crguitarman]

Hey Bigmow:

I'm 57 and have been playing live since 1964. I 've been in six-piece, five-piece and four-piece bands, done a bunch of different duo things and gone solo frequently through the years. I think age IS a factor. Bill and I pretty much bombed at a hot local club called Dumas's when the place lived up to it's name. Too many youngsters and not enough dancers. We decided once was enough at that place.

By and large, I think the clubs you pick are the most important. Smaller bars in the US Midwest tend to be an older crowd and much more appreciative of a good show and sincere musical effort. We have three clubs where we are booked pretty much once a month. If we can find another couple of those, we'll be set. We also seem to be booked most heavily on Fridays, since we can give a club owner a financial break ($300-$350 for guaranteed rotation) over the cost of bigger local bands ($600-$800).

Look for the crowd you want to play for and then offer to go in at a discount (once) and let them see what you can do. After that, it's all up to you! When it comes to rockin', age is less of a factor than in almost any other vocation.

Agents? Nope. Ain't worth it.

Dennis